MPs' shouting match forces Speaker to suspend sitting

Speaker Anglu Farrugia was forced to suspend the parliamentary sitting for five minutes this evening after he lost control of his MPs as both sides of the Houses engaged in a shouting match.

The session started heating up when Gozo Minister Anton Refalo was being asked over allegations that his ministry carried out works for private persons. Refalo, denying that he had carried out any such works, challenged the Opposition to go to the police if they had any such information.

The questions were being raised by PN deputy leader for party affairs Beppe Fenech Adami and shadow Gozo minister Chris Said.

Hitting back, Refalo told Said: “As far I know, private works in Nadur were carried out by the PN. I didn’t do any private works. Why don’t you [Said] tell us how many trucks carrying concrete were sent during the night before a general election or local councils elections.”

As Refalo continued challenging Said, and comments started slowly being passed on by both sides of the House, energy minister Konrad Mizzi could be heard off mic telling the Opposition “why don’t you tell us what the whistleblower told you?” – referring to the Gozitan whistleblower Joe Cauchi and his meetings with the PN.

At one point, Mizzi could be heard telling Opposition leader Simon Busuttil that he should be “ashamed” of facing the public and that the electorate would judge them.

The comments irked the Opposition’s whip, David Agius, who stood up and asked the Speaker whether he was going to tolerate such comments. Instantly, the government MPs started shouting that the Opposition repeatedly attacks the other side. Some pointed out the number of times Mizzi’s wife – Sai Mizzi Liang -  was brought into the fray, irrespective of the issue at hand.

At one point, Simon Busuttil could be heard telling Evarist Bartolo that “you don’t scare me” with Bartolo retorting: “What do you mean? I’m simply reminding you of your hypocrisy.”

The shouting match continued, and the Prime Minister commented that the Opposition had become “like ballerinas, jumping as soon as you tell them something”.

Speaker Anglu Farrugia, who evidently had had enough of the MPs’ childish attitude, walked out of the Chamber, suspending the sitting. Upon his return, Farrugia warned the parliamentarians that their actions did not reflect a serious parliament.

“I don’t think this is the right way to act and we should be giving examples,” Farrugia said.

David Agius asked the Speaker not to allow any more insulting comments to be passed against the Opposition leader. Once again, the government side pointed out that no one should be at the receiving end of insulting comments.

Trying to placate the mood, government whip Godfrey Farrugia told the House that “proper attitude should come from both sides of the House. The way we act reflects our personality and things have lately gotten out of hands. I want to bring everyone’s attention to this.”